A February Postcard 💌

Writing updates & some bits I've adored lately

Feb 28, 2025

It’s the last day of Love Month, so I thought I’d pop over this postcard in lieu of February’s Year with the Mystics series post, which I’ve pushed back a bit due to writing deadlines, work, and a conference. I was really hoping to publish about Bernard of Clairvaux, the Love Saint, during this month all about love. Thankfully, Bernard is evergreen, and I’m enjoying being immersed in his life story and work. Below, you’ll find a few writing updates, favorite bits I’ve read/listened to this month, and some pictures around dear ole Oxford.

Five Writing Updates

💌 Mockingbird: A Monk’s Bedtime: Prayers Death, Eternity, and Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo This piece felt like getting out all my morbid, moody girl winter thoughts before spring comes. Got to spin together several books that have shaped my thinking lately (the four in the picture above, to be exact)!

💌 The Gospel Coalition: The ‘Surprising Rebirth’ at Oxford: Perspectives from a Graduate Student Some religious trend forecasting and zeitgeist summarising through my personal experience as a student last year.

💌 Ekstasis Curated: A fun monthly newsletter of recommendations in culture, art, and faith I’ve been putting together lately.

💌 London Inkwell: I had the lovely privilege of reading my little poem, The Politics of Spring in London, a few weeks ago. It reminded me how vital poetry read-alouds are—even if they’re just in the living room with a few buddies (highly recommend)!

💌 Bernard of Clairvaux: Post on this mystic coming shortly. In the meantime, here are two insightful quotes by him:

“There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is Love.” (Thanks
Griffin Gooch
)
“Love needs no cause beyond itself, nor does it demand fruits; it is its own purpose.”

Five Bits I Adored This Month

💌 Following No Other Way at Comment Magazine with Nathan Beacom

💌 The Vagabond King at The Abbey of Misrule by

Paul Kingsnorth

💌 Christianity and Secularism in America, with Jonathan Rauch at the Conversing Podcast

💌 Hannah Arendt on Love and How to Live with the Fundamental Fear of Loss at The Marginalian with Maria Popova

💌 Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry (Book club just finished this one—we are embarking on The Bell by Iris Murdoch next).

BONUS: Love (III): In Hannah Coulter, there’s a scene which I’m convinced is modeled directly after this gorgeous poem by George Herber. It’s perfect for love month.

“Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked any thing.
A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.”